a little uncomfortable. Momse, as we call the former Queen, looks as pert and pulled together as always. Her sleek gray hair pulled back in a chignon and her dove gray silk dress hiding her too-demure smile.
It just makes me think of how I've never really gotten on with my grandmother like everyone else does. Momse is controlling and manipulative, always behind the scenes trying to pull everyone’s strings like a puppeteer. She was always more interested in Stellan, as he was going to take the throne someday.
I try not think about it too much.
The older cabinet member is short and gray-haired, his piercing black eyes focused on me. He is outright glaring at me, held in check I'm sure by whatever machinations my grandmother has in place. I have no idea exactly why I've been summoned here, but I know that it isn't good. I'm trying not to show it on the outside, though.
Stellan leans forward, running a hand to his dark hair. He shakes his head a little as he looks at me. "I think you have really done it this time, Lars."
My heart beats a little faster. I'm not sure exactly what I’ve done or how I can be punished for it, but seeing my grandmother here is definitely not a good sign. Still, I try to play it cool.
"You're gonna have to be more specific about what I have done wrong this time." I say it casually, as if I'm just tossing off the first response it comes my head. But underneath the table, my hands are clasped together in my lap, knuckles turning white.
My grandmother tucks an unseen hair behind her ear and smiles a little flatly. "As expected, as I have warned you not to do on multiple occasions, you have violated the wrong young woman."
I squint at the three of them. "Violated? Who are we talking about, here? I definitely never done anything to anyone who wasn’t a willing participant."
Stellan and my grandmother both arch their brows, reminding me only now that they are definitely related.
The minister shoots to his feet, pointing at me and unleashing a torrent of invective. "You are lucky that there is still a chance to redeem yourself, you complete waste of space. I for one would have you drawn and quartered for the way that you treated my granddaughter. Ever since you sweet-talked your way into her bedroom, she's been inconsolable. Won’t eat, can’t sleep, doesn’t seem to enjoy anything.”
I squint. “It sounds like something your granddaughter has more serious problems than me not calling her the after we…” I pause, searching for the right term. “Were together.”
He looks like he’s about to blow a gasket. “It’s only recently that she has admitted that she is sad because you didn’t call her! You're just lucky that your grandmother jumped in and offered that you should marry her."
I freeze. "I'm sorry, what?"
He leans close, jabbing his finger at me and roaring. "You are going to marry my granddaughter or I will personally see to it that you are skinned alive. That's a promise!"
I put my hands flat on the table, looking at Stellan. "Please tell me that you don't support any of this nonsense."
He sighs, gesturing to the minister. "Well, did you sleep with his granddaughter?"
I push my cheek out with my tongue. "I have no idea. Probably. This isn't nineteen fifty though. Not everybody that sleeps together has to get married. I definitely am not just going to agree to marry some girl that I barely know. I mean, I'm almost afraid to ask which girl this guy’s granddaughter is, honestly."
My grandmother pushes to her feet, running a hand down her dress. "I would think that you would be more interested in knowing the name of your bride to be. Her name is Anna, if you are curious."
I narrow my eyes at her. "Ja, I'm not Stellan. I'm not interested in letting you manipulate me. There's nothing in it for me. What are you guys going to do? What leverage you have? None, that's what."
The old man's face turns bright red. "I'll kill you, you bastard!"
Stellan looks at me flatly. "I'll kick you out of the RAF, for a start. And then I will disinherit you. What will you do then, Lars?"
I look away, at the fireplace crackling on one side of the room. My jaw clenches. The idea that Stellan could take away what I have worked for, the very program that may just send me to